What is Batoning Wood?
Batoning wood is the act of chopping or splitting wood.
You basically grab the piece of log or wood you want to chop and smack your knife with a mallet, log, etc on top of the wood you want to split.
If you don’t have an axe, it’s an easy and efficient way to prepare firewood without wasting too much time.
Why Get a Camping Knife for Chopping Wood
An axe is heavier, takes more space, and even using it requires some level of skill and strength. A batoning knife however can be easier to use and for some people, a faster method of chopping wood.
With a camping knife, you are getting a greater value, as you not only can use the knife to chop or split wood but to cut rope, meat, for cooking purposes, etc. It’s a much better choice when you are going camping.
Full Tang & Fixed Blade is Better Than Folding
While a folding knife is cheaper and may have better functionality for multi-purpose and portability reasons, the blade is too small and has a high risk of snapping along the neck which can result in serious injury.
Seriously… go for a full tang fixed blade if you want to baton wood. A folding knife is most likely going to break or chip. Bolts, screws, and other pieces can go flying off, especially if it’s a lesser-quality folding knife. Even high-quality folding knives will take a beating and you are severely reducing the durability, functionality, and lifespan of your EDC camping knife.
How Big Should The Blade Be?
The blade (not including the handle) should be at least 7 inches. Small logs or firewood are generally ~5 inches in diameter, so your blade needs to be long enough to extend a few inches more than the diameter of the wood.
The longer the blade, the easier it will be to split the wood or log as longer knives have the benefit of using leverage and can act as a lever for splitting.
Make sure to pay attention to the thickness of the knife as well. You don’t want it to be too thick because you will need to exert more force for your knife to dig into the wood, but you don’t want it to be too thin, as you can chip or break your batoning knife.
1/8 inch thickness is decent. The material should be steel that doesn’t bend easily.
Choosing The Right Handle
You want the handle to not only feel comfortable, but it has to have a good grip for you to hold on to. Rubber with a rugged texture is a good choice. It can also be metal with a rugged texture. Anything that is sturdy to hold onto really.
Wood, Ivory, or smooth surfaced handles are not advised as they are more likely to slip especially when wet, which can lead to accidents or injuries.
